Chris Brown pleads not guilty to ‘bottle attack' charge

The American musician, 36, is accused of attempting to unlawfully and maliciously cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Abraham Diaw at the Tape venue in Hanover Square, Mayfair, on February 19 2023.
His co-defendant, US national Omololu Akinlolu, denied the same charge in a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Friday morning.
Both defendants are further charged with assaulting Mr Diaw occasioning him actual bodily harm, with Brown also facing one count of having an offensive weapon – a bottle – in a public place.
They were not asked to enter pleas to those charges with a further court hearing set for July 11.
Around 20 people sat in the public gallery behind the dock for Friday's hearing, many of them fans of Brown.
A date for a five to seven-day trial was set for October 26 2026.
Brown had arrived at around 9am to a large group of photographers outside court, and walked in silence to the building's entrance.
The Go Crazy singer, who was able to continue with his scheduled international tour after he was freed on conditional bail last month, performed in Cardiff on Thursday night.
He had to pay a £5 million security fee to the court as part of the bail agreement, which is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court and may be forfeited if they breach bail conditions.

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The Herald Scotland

37 minutes ago

• The Herald Scotland

VIP all-inclusive Butlin's Minehead experience review

We arrived at the seaside town of Minehead in Somerset, ready and raring to go, after breaking up the journey on the way down from Bury with a lovely overnight stay in Droitwich Spa just off the M5. The site is right on the coast and we were soon through the drive-through check-in and checking out our seafront apartment which was a perfect base for a family-of-four. Our Butlin's Minehead Bayside Apartment living area and bedroom (Image: NQ) But you don't come to Butlin's to sit around, and we were soon out and exploring all the site had to offer us for our four-night stay. The great thing about Butlin's is that a lot of things are already included in the price, so you don't have to worry about how many times the kids want to go on the fairground rides, in the soft play or the vast swimming pool, as well as regular shows on the Skyline Stage. Extreme Mountain Bike Show on the Skyline Stage (Image: NQ) There are also more activities than you'd have time to fit in, at an extra cost, such as mini archery (£6), laser tag (£15), high ropes (£13) and pottery painting (from £10). We also had an Action Pass each (£22pp), which we used towards two games of bowling, a game of American pool, and one go on the Go-Karts. Unless you know you're going to make use of every single pass, I'm not sure these are worth the extra cost. The kids didn't manage to make it onto the bungee trampolines as the queues seemed to shift slowly. Bowling; party night at Reds; a full house of 1,500 in Studio 36 for The Masked Singer and Hotshots sports bar at Butlin's Minehead (Image: NQ) Which brings me nicely onto something I thought was an absolute game-changer – the Early Access VIP (from £29pp) pass that allows you to book onto shows three days before everyone else and entry 15 minutes before the rest. The shows at Butlin's really are first-class and it was wonderful not worrying about whether we would be stuck at the back, with little ones getting bored as they couldn't see the stage properly. On our first night, we were treated to a wonderful show called Animals and Mythical Beasts by The Animal Guyz whose motto is learning through laughter. Part comedy, part educational and all about the wonder of animals, it was a delight of a show. A packed crowd enjoying Animals and Mythical Beasts (Image: NQ) Later in the week, 1,500 people packed into Studio 36 for a live version of The Masked Singer for which we had a prime spot. The show was hosted by YouTuber Nathan Connor, bringing all the elaborate costumes and ridiculous guesses from Saturday night TV to a delighted live audience whooping 'Take it off!' I won't spoil the surprise of who the two celebrities underneath the masks were but, let's just say, I was not disappointed and recognised them instantly… Another highlight was Meet the Gladiators, for which a huge queue started forming well before the event was due to open. The reboot of the '90s favourite has been delighting a new generation of fans and excitement was building in the huge venue as the host asked eager holidaymakers which Gladiators they thought would grace the stage. Much to the delight of the crowd, it was Dynamite and Sabre – purring, 'I can't wait to meet the dads,' – who were unveiled. Sabre on the big screen at Butlin's (Image: NQ) Families waited patiently to get photos with the glam pair, with snaps taken by a professional photographer at a cost of £8. A great price for something that is sure to be a lovely keepsake for many. After all that excitement, it was time for a tipple or two for which the All Inclusive Drinks Package had us more than covered. There was a range of drinks included, from pints of Madri, to wine, spirits and mixers and soft drinks for the kids. The All Inclusive Drinks Package menu (Image: NQ) From £25.95 per adult, per day, if you like a bev then this easily pays for itself and you can even add the package to your stay and pay monthly for the total using Autopay. We also enjoyed Premium Dining (£32.95 per adult, per day) which includes all-you-can-eat breakfast and dinner options in a choice of two eateries – The Deck and The Yacht Club. More: My Eurocamp holiday to Italy was 4 years later than planned – was it worth the wait? More: 'Stay at top-rated hotel and spa left me feeling on cloud nine' Dining options - The Yacht Club and, the one we preferred, The Deck, where there are fresh food stations (Image: NQ) While The Yacht Club was more of a canteen style, we much preferred The Deck which had service stations offering food such as freshly-cooked omelettes for breakfast and pasta, burgers made to order and Chinese options in the evening. The accommodation had everything we needed for our stay and it was lovely waking up each morning to the sounds of the sea. The bed probably wasn't the comfiest I've ever slept in but, after full-on days, falling asleep certainly wasn't a problem. Some of the park could probably do with a refresh but the kids certainly didn't notice or care. If you're the kind of person who lets something needing a lick of paint spoil your holiday, then Butlin's probably isn't for you. After a full-on and action-packed week, it was time to hit the road and head home. Holiday traffic meant it took seven hours on the return journey so I think my next Butlin's port of call will be the closer-to-home Skegness – once I've recovered from May half term. Football and playgrounds aplenty to keep the kids entertained on site (Image: NQ) Butlin's has three UK resorts, Skegness, Minehead, and Bognor Regis. Visit Summer Holidays from £475 (£119 per person) Butlin's offers a four-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two bedroom Comfort Room from £475 on 21 July 2025. Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows and activities with free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides and the SKYPARK playground. Dining packages start from £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (6-14), per day and £6.95 per child (2-5). Summer Holidays from £1753 (£439 per person) Butlin's offers a four-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern staying in a two bedroom Bayside Apartment from £1753 on 21 July 2025. Price is based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows and activities with free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides and the SKYPARK playground. Dining packages start from £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (6-14), per day and £6.95 per child (2-5).

Daily Mirror

an hour ago

• Daily Mirror

'Trump's latest golden gimmick has finally been exposed - the grift goes on'

The crooked Trump Organisation's latest golden gimmick, the T1 smartphone - billed as a proudly American alternative to Apple's iPhone 17 - isn't quite as stars-and-stripes as advertised. Marketed under the new "Trump Mobile" brand, the gold-plated handset is due to ship in August and proudly claims to be 'Made in the USA.' But eagle-eyed social media sleuths have already called foul, uncovering that the T1 is actually a Chinese-made Android device in a MAGA makeover… and being flogged for three times its price on Amazon. The Trump Mobile network itself has been dubbed an "All-American service," though critics suggest the only thing truly domestic about it is the markup. The Trump grift goes on. A wannabe photographer learned the hard way that breaking into a prison can land you right where you'd expect - behind bars. Cody Mallon, 19, from Argyle, New York, fancied himself a bit of an urban explorer when he crawled through a hole in the fence of the shuttered Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill just after midnight. Once inside, the teen reportedly got a little too into character and managed to lock himself in one of the old cells. Realising freedom wasn't part of the self-guided tour, he had to call for help. State Police and the Glenham Fire Department responded and freed the red-faced inmate-turned-intruder. Mallon was promptly arrested for criminal trespass. Ed the Zebra, who hoofed it out of captivity and trotted into internet stardom, was finally grounded after more than a week on the loose in Tennessee. The stripy fugitive was spotted chilling in a pasture near a local subdivision before being dramatically airlifted by helicopter back to an animal trailer. No frequent flyer miles were earned. A DoorDash driver accidentally turned Chicago O'Hare into his own personal delivery route after driving miles through the airport's restricted roads on Saturday. Airport police say the confused courier wandered along taxiways and secure areas before being spotted by someone in the control tower. Authorities confirmed it was all a mistake, but admitted the driver may have crossed actual runways. No word on whether the food was on time. Things got a little too fraught at a Charlotte commission meeting when protesters released live crickets during a debate on gun violence awareness. The unexpected insect invasion forced a recess while crews rounded up the chirping culprits. 'Disturb the meeting, and you'll be escorted out - or charged,' warned Chair Mark Jerrell.

Daily Mirror

2 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Ted Bundy's unnerving final 12 words before he was executed

Ted Bundy was convicted of the murders of more than 30 young women, but his 12-year killing spree may have been far more extensive, with the true number of his victims still unknown As Theodore Robert Bundy, infamously known as Ted Bundy, was escorted to 'Old Sparky', Florida's dreaded electric chair, he seemed to have come to terms with his impending demise. Gone was the usual bravado of the convicted killer, instead, a sombre mood enveloped him as he stepped into the execution chamber. ‌ The LA Times reported that Bundy had spent his last night in tears and prayer, grappling with the reality of his looming end. ‌ Bundy, a man whose charm ensnared the American public's attention, remained an enigma to many. His biographer Ann Rule, a former police officer, labelled him a "sadistic sociopath" who revelled in the agony of others. Yet, Rule herself had once been oblivious to the peril he posed when they both volunteered at Seattle's Suicide Hotline Crisis Center in 1971, years before Bundy's initial arrest, reports the Mirror US. In her book 'The Stranger Beside Me', Rule recalled Bundy as "kind, solicitous, and empathetic" during their time together – a stark contradiction to the monster behind numerous brutal femicides and his brazen courtroom demeanour, which belied his true nature. Throughout his life, Bundy was handed three death sentences. He managed to postpone the inevitable through a series of cunning tactics over this extended period, including a successful escape and some sturdy legal manoeuvring. Bundy utilised various strategies that led to prolonged proceedings, and the prosecution, who initially considered removing the death penalty in exchange for a lengthy sentence, grew weary of his tactics. ‌ By the time he reached his final trial in 1980, prosecutors were determined to see Bundy face his end in their state's deadliest electric chair. The trial was groundbreaking in many ways, with coverage from 250 journalists from five continents, marking it as the first televised trial in the United States. There was a palpable sense of anticipation, as if justice was finally about to be served to Bundy. Despite having five court-appointed lawyers, Bundy largely conducted his own defence, seizing the opportunity to grandstand before the cameras. ‌ At times, the courtroom drama seemed more akin to a soap opera than a criminal trial involving a defendant facing the death penalty. Bundy was highly intelligent, but his showboating, delusions of grandeur, and constant desire to maintain control ultimately worked against him. Ted Bundy, the notorious death row inmate, not only prolonged his trial but also exploited an obscure Florida law to propose to his girlfriend and witness, Carole Ann Boone, who accepted from the stand. ‌ This peculiar Florida statute meant that declaring a marriage in court before a judge was tantamount to a legal union. After Boone's acceptance, which left many in disbelief, Bundy declared himself legally wedded in the courtroom, adding another layer of drama to his already sensational trial. As his sentence was delivered, he is said to have stood up and exclaimed, "Tell the jury they were wrong!". Bundy's enigmatic nature fascinated the public, leading to a crowd of about 500 people gathering outside the north Florida jail on January 24, 1989, eager for updates on his fate, while others anticipated news from the press. ‌ Choosing to forgo his final meal, Bundy was led to the electric chair, where he faced 42 onlookers during the final preparations for his execution. In the moments leading up to his execution, scheduled for around 7.15pm, Superintendent Tom Barton asked Bundy for his last words. With little hesitation, Bundy, who was nearing the end of his life, turned to Jim Coleman, one of his solicitors, and Fred Lawrence, the Methodist minister who had prayed with him the previous night. ‌ The doomed man imparted a final message, requesting, "I'd like you to give my love to my family and friends." A leather strap was tightened across Bundy's mouth and chin, and the electric chair's metal skullcap was securely fastened, concealing his face behind a thick black veil. Barton gave the signal, and an unidentified executioner activated the device, sending 2,000 volts of electricity surging through the chair. Bundy's body stiffened from the voltage, his hands clenched, and a small plume of smoke rose from his right leg. ‌ After a minute, the machine was turned off, and Bundy's body went limp. A paramedic opened his blue shirt to check for a heartbeat, while another man shone a light into his eyes. At 7:16 am, it was officially confirmed: Ted Bundy was dead. Outside the prison, the crowd erupted in cheers. As the witnesses to Bundy's execution filed out of the facility, they appeared subdued. Some seemed taken aback by the jubilation unfolding before them in the chilly morning air. "Regardless of what Bundy did, he was still a human being," commented Jim Sewell, Gulfport, Florida's police chief, who had witnessed the serial killer's execution. Yet even Sewell, still reeling from the shock of witnessing the execution, admitted feeling a profound sense of relief that Bundy was gone. This sentiment resonated across the country, especially among women, who now had one fewer ruthless predator to fear in their daily lives.